Re: Benchrest AR Barrel! Help!
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: gaw</div><div class="ubbcode-body">My intention here was to find barrels I hadn't yet heard of and until now I hadn't heard of Krieger or Compas Lake. Getting a White Oak Varmint would be a cost effective starting point. Thank you! </div></div>
You would do well to re-read what SS posted just above this.
Your youthful enthusiasm, while commendable, may be blinding you to some aspects of reality. In my earlier post, I questioned whether I could present you with any new information that would help you in your quest, because you seem to have all the answers to your questions, even before asking them.
It now seems that all you gleaned from the various responses here are company names and the post quoted above shows that you did not get it quite right.
Let me explain a few things. First off for .223, "Long Range", "accuracy" and "tactical" are not words that go together. In fact you can only have two out of these three words together, you pick any two.
"Long Range" is 800-1000 yards.
"Accuracy" is about one MOA at all distances.
"Tactical" means magazine length bullets, ie bullets with low BC values such as the 77gr SMK, 75gr Hornady, etc.
Now please take this as I mean it, but you sound rather new to precision Long Range shooting. That's perfectly fine, we all started not knowing anything about it. The reasons I am saying that are that you state you had never heard of Krieger and you put benchrest and AR-15 together.
There are many barrel makers and Krieger is highly regarded in that domain, especially for AR-15s. Other barrel makers with excellent reputations and products are: Shilen, Obermeyer, Schneider, Hart, Lija, Broughton, Bartlein, Pac-nor, Lawton, McGowen, and so on. Some do AR barrels, others don't, but I think all the ones I listed do and many of them will chamber, contour and fit the barrel to your rifle or upper. There are certainly other ones.
Next there are many companies who will buy barrels from barrel makers and chamber, contour, flute and install on their own or other receivers and uppers. They do not make the original barrel but they buy the barrel after it's been drilled and rifled and take it from there; White Oak, Compass Lake and many other fine companies do that and present you with a superb finished product.
I would suggest 2 courses of action. The first one is to visit the websites of the various companies listed above and discover their offerings and services. It's not just about the money, it's about doing it right the first time with the simplest series of step. But you need to find out what is involved and why some things are required and others are optional.
The second course of action, is actually a precursor to the one I just described but one that will continue even as you do the research above. Sterling Shooter alluded to it a little bit, let me be more direct.
You need to figure out what you want to do with the rifle and you need to set your parameters accordingly. Go back and read what I said about choosing two out of three with the .223. Trust me on this, I know what I am talking about when it comes to Long Range Precision shooting with a .223. Oh, and you had better be one heck of a hand loader also. I and other here would be very happy to help you fill in the various parameters to help guide you. You need but to ask and not give us the answer in the form of a question.
But lastly, you need to go back once again a read Sterling's post above. Getting a fine barrel in a great upper with superlative ammo does not equate accurate shooting. You need to know how to shoot and shoot well. I realise every American male thinks he knows how to shoot by the simple fact he is a man, but that's just not the case. Even a gifted shooter needs training to reach his (or her) potential. Sterling gave you some good ideas, I will add that books can help you and certainly competition is probably the best way to hone your skills.
In closing, I hope you don't dismiss this message outright. I and others here, would like nothing better than to help you in your quest, but only if you will let us. This is large part what this site is all about.